Page 20 of The Silence of Monsters

We chatted happily for several minutes. I mentioned that my niece was interested in a bunch of different things and asked if she had recommendations for voice lessons near the Cove. I figured Winnie would try singing, eventually. It was a pleasant surprise when Beverly informed me that her family had moved to the Cove from Texas after she’d gained admission to Juilliard. She mentioned that she often went home to visit on the weekends. We exchanged numbers, and she told me she would be happy to help Winnie out if her interests turned to singing and performing.

A familiar, haughty voice interrupted our conversation.

“Beverly. I can’t thank you enough for taking time away from your schedule to perform for us tonight. I’ve been looking for you. I want to introduce you to my son. I promised your mother I would make this event worthy of the time you had to take away from school. I apologize for not being able to set up a private meeting sooner. Win is incredibly busy, as I’m sure you know.”

Colette appeared like a specter. Her snow-white hair was wrapped into a flawless twist, and she wore a glittery gold ensemble that sparkled from head to toe. She was doing a damn fine job of passing herself off as a false god. She didn’t bother to look in my direction. She treated me like I was invisible, which was fine by me. It saved me from forcing my expression away from the automatic scowl that took over my features the second I saw her.

My new friend didn’t seem to appreciate Colette’s cold shoulder on my behalf. “I’m very busy, as well. I told my mother I was happy to help because this event is for charity. I had no other motive.” She leaned closer to me and whispered, “I’m only twenty-three. Who wants to date, let alone marry, an old, stuffy man like Win Halliday?”

I nearly choked on the sip of whiskey I’d just slugged back to avoid saying anything biting to Colette. The age difference between Win and the singer was enough to raise a few eyebrows, but the age gap was undeniably common in these circles. Rich men liked to have a young, beautiful woman on their arm. Of course, Beverly was a better match for Win in Colette’s eyes. Any woman here would be.

The older woman wanted to drag the singer away, but a new rumble worked through the crowd that had nothing to do with the questions and contempt from my arrival with Win.

“Isn’t that the Halliday bastard?”

“Who invited him?”

“He looks so much like Win.”

“Does Colette know he’s here?”

“Did the Hallidays decide to recognize him as a rightful heir?”

“He’s so handsome.”

“The press should follow him around since Win doesn’t ever speak to them. I bet he has so much dirt to spill on the Hallidays.”

I cocked my head to the side as I caught a slight glimpse of a tall, dark-haired man moving through the crowd like he owned the place. Alistair had a totally different vibe than Win. His was no less intimidating, but it didn’t feel so oppressive. Win would hate it, but Alistair viewed him as a role model. I didn’t tell the younger man that Win was secretly envious of his normal childhood with a loving family. In my heart, I guessed that Win would trade all the money he made for Halliday Inc. for a fraction of the love Alistair experienced.

Colette gritted her teeth and maneuvered in the intruder’s direction. A dignified matriarch would never bulldoze through a crowd. Even if she obviously wanted to. I caught Alistair’s eye and gave him a slight finger wave in greeting. I liked his fearlessness. Then, Win appeared out of nowhere, grabbed my hand with his much bigger one, and forcefully pulled me out of the nearest exit.

“Hey, Chester. Let go of me. That hurts.” I tugged on my hand and tried to break free as Win shoved me into the nearest bathroom and moved a ‘Closed for Repairs’ sign from a stall to the entrance. He shut the door and prowled toward me. I rubbed my wrist and watched with a guarded gaze.

Win whipped back around and stalked toward me like a predator. I backed into the sink and lifted my hands to his chest when he pinned me against the edge of the marble countertop. A stray puddle of water seeped into the fabric of my dress, but that wasn’t what made me shiver.

The look in Win’s storm-colored eyes pricked my skin and made all my senses go on high alert. It was unnerving to be on the receiving end of such intensity.

“Did you ask Alistair to meet you here?” His tone was icy.

I scoffed. “No. First of all, if you recall, I didn’t know about this event until you sprung it on me last minute. Second, why would I want to subject anyone else to such a boring and purposeless evening? Alistair never mentioned that he was attending, and I didn’t see it on his schedule. Even if I did, he’s got just as much right to be here as the next rich son of a bitch. You should be thrilled to have another big fat bank account in attendance if this charade is really about helping people.”

“I don’t like him, Harvey.” He practically growled the words next to my ear.

“I know you don’t. But I do like him. He’s not scared of your mother, and I need an ally like him if I’m going to make it through the next two years. I can’t rely on you to have my back when it comes to her.” The way he decided to ignore the strange happenings in the manor was proof that his allegiance was questionable.

Win blinked, and I noticed his eyelashes were unfairly long and thick. His eyebrows dipped and his voice deepened.

“Let me be clear, Channing. I. Don’t. Like. Him.”

I inhaled sharply and tried to push him away so I could breathe. His broad chest was unyielding, and his big body put off an immense amount of heat.

“And I don’t like being dragged to this event and treated like an animal in the zoo. I never wanted any part of your life, Chester. You forced this on me, in case you forgot.”

His eyes narrowed, and he seemed to freeze. “Not even me?”

I was confused and tilted my head to the side. “Not even you, what?”

“You don’t want any part of my life, including me?”

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